Rankin, Ian

The Naming of the Dead (An Inspector Rebus)

Average customer rating:

Still in form
Crackin' good mystery--wonderful writing
Another John Rebus mystery
The Child Is Grown, The Dream is Gone,Comfortably Numb
Another Inspector Rebus Triumph

The Naming of the Dead (An Inspector Rebus)
Ian Rankin
Manufacturer: Little, Brown and Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0316057576

Book Description

The leaders of the free world descend on Scotland for an international conference, and every cop in the country is needed for front-line duty...except one. John Rebus's reputation precedes him, and his bosses don't want him anywhere near Presidents Bush and Putin, which explains why he's manning an abandoned police station when a call comes in. During a preconference dinner at Edinburgh Castle, a delegate has fallen to his death. Accident, suicide, or something altogether more sinister? And is it linked to a grisly find close to the site of the gathering? Are the world's most powerful men at risk from a killer? While the government and secret services attempt to hush the whole thing up, Rebus knows he has only seventy-two hours to find the answers.

Customer Reviews:

Still in form.......2007-06-12

Ian Rankin has brought us another taut and compelling thriller about Edinburgh and the now aging Inspector Rebus. Arriving at the end of his career, Rebus still is driven to find politically inconvenient truths. He even revels in it. And Siobhan, his partner, may be heading in the same career derailing direction as she tries to manage the unfortunate nexus of her personal and professional lives. Well written, evocative of the time and place, and involving. Well worth the 5 stars.

Crackin' good mystery--wonderful writing.......2007-06-12

Wow, Ian Rankin really knows how to construct a storyline that pulls readers in from the first page and keeps them interested to the end. "The Naming of the Dead" is set at the time of the 2005 G8 conference in Scotland and uses the meeting as a plausible backdrop for a number of murders that should be related, but don't seem to be. Great characters here in Detective Inspecter Rebus and his partner as well as virtually all of the supporting members of the story. This is a first-rate mystery with a good dollop of wry humor.

Another John Rebus mystery.......2007-05-30

Ian Rankin has been writing police procedurals featuring his alter ego, John Rebus, for 20 years. Both the writer and the character have grown as they've lived through the life changes that time brings. "Often I am not sure where I end and he begins," said Rankin in an interview. In THE NAMING OF THE DEAD, Rankin's latest Rebus novel, he limns the policeman with a little twist. An aging Rebus is tired, frustrated and more introspective than in any of the previous installments.

Rebus came to law enforcement with only one goal: to stop crimes when possible, to seek justice and to always "do it his way." He was and remains a rogue who is not afraid to bend the rules. This drives his superiors to distraction, especially when the inspector is defying them. He is not above strong-arming suspects or using reliable snitches --- some of whom have been reprised more than once in the series, regardless of their pedigree --- like gangster Morris Gerald Cafferty. Because Rebus never played politics in order to earn promotions, this means that (late in his career) he has nothing to lose. His colleagues learned early on to give him a wide birth, and while acknowledging his brilliant detective work, some of them openly resent him.

Then along came Siobhan Clarke, a rookie who was immediately impressed by the work Rebus does. She was warned over and over not to get too close to him, because the powers-that-be were afraid she would learn his bad habits and hence become "tainted." She didn't listen. The two gravitated toward each other and built a trust that sees them through the darkness they face in their work. They are close friends and grateful that they can confide in one another. They live close by and share a passion for music, a theme reprised in each novel.

Rebus drinks --- sometimes too much, at other times much too much. He lives alone and is rooted to his chair, usually with a bottle of "anything" to get through the night. But his alcoholism doesn't appear to hamper his work. "Rebus paused for a moment...and wondered why his blood was coursing. Answer: he was working. Old-fashioned, dogged police work --- almost as good as a vacation. But then he noticed that his final destination was another pub."

THE NAMING OF THE DEAD opens with the funeral of Rebus's brother, from which he cannot wait to escape. With perfect timing Siobhan reaches him on his cell and tells him to meet her at "Clootie Well," the site of a strange ménage of "offerings" in remembrance of the dead. She has found the jacket of a recent Edinburgh murder victim. Not far from there is "Gleneagles...where the G8 [meeting] control center is." This conference is comprised of international leaders, including President Bush, and has brought law enforcement out in droves. But, despite the security measures and number of delegates, a man falls (is pushed?) to his death from the turret of the castle, on the grounds of the hotel. Rebus is forced to engage in a turf war in order to find the truth.

In addition, both legitimate protesters and those on the side of lunacy are expected to make their various presences known. Some strange characters emerge from the crowd, as do former hippie types like Siobhan's parents who find themselves in the middle of a melee. They have made friends with an odd young woman who seems to float like a ghost in and out of focus. From here the novel becomes complicated --- more political, philosophical, a commentary on family relationships, memories, loss and "lives well lived." But all the subplots are handled with finesse and in Rankin's able hands are pulled together into a satisfying whole.

Ian Rankin's books are tightly plotted and populated with well-drawn characters, some familiar from previous outings and others new on the scene. By the end, readers will agree that this is one of the best books the author has written. They may also wonder if Rebus is ready to "just walk away from his job." Can Rankin eliminate him and perhaps promote Siobhan Clarke to take his place? Or if Rebus is "put out to pasture" he certainly could continue to work with his protégé "behind the scenes." One can only hope that Rankin finds that Rebus is too important a creation to give up his place in the Edinburgh constabulary and fade away.

--- Reviewed by Barbara Lipkien Gershenbaum

The Child Is Grown, The Dream is Gone,Comfortably Numb.......2007-05-27

'Out of the corner of my eye.
I turned to look but it was gone.
I cannot put my finger on it now.
The child is grown, the dream is gone.
I have become comfortably numb.' Pink Floyd

My favorite nonconformist Detective Inspector Rebus infuriates everyone including his bosses. He is based in Edinburgh, and this is 2005 the week of the G8 summit

Ian Rankin was in Edinburg during the G8 and he conveys the atmosphere to perfection, from the people with ideals, wanting to make a difference for the poorest people in the world through to the disaffected people of the poorest parts of Edinburgh who'd like to make a difference to their own lives. Rankin catches the protestors, the gung-ho attitude of some of the police and the edginess of the crowds. I felt I was there: On occasions I could feel the anxiety. There are contrasts with the situation at Gleneagles, where no expense or detail is spared to protect the leaders and to provide facilities for their staff. The futility of the summit against the backdrop of what was happening in the real world is real and palpable.

The 16th Inspector Rebus novel is a big read set against the backdrop of one of the most tumultuous weeks in recent Scottish history: the G8. Rankin digs deeper into Rebus's psyche and continues to explore themes of justice and retribution, impermanence, loss and regret. Rebus is the same truculent character he has always been and impending old age - his 60th birthday and consequent retirement - is preying on his mind.

The Naming of The Dead which Rankin took from a ceremony to honour those who had died in Iraq which took place in Edinburgh in 2005. While every cop and his dog is pulling overtime to cope with the daily marches and demonstrations surrounding the summit, Rebus has been sidelined. Who wants him getting close to world leaders? But when a body is discovered in a glade in Auchterarder, Rebus, as the only person left in the office and he is assigned the case and finds himself visiting the G8 after all.
Almost immediately, he clashes with the English police commander in charge of G8 security. Before long, he has everybody's backs up as he explores the possibility that an MP's drop off Edinburgh Castle's ramparts was murder, not suicide, and that a serial killer is preying on convicted rapists harvested from a vigilante website. Rebus' s close friend - Siobhan Clarke - is also at odds with her superiors as she attempts to find the riot cop who clobbered her mother during one of the many demonstrations. She's also getting entangled with Rebus's nemesis, thuggish crime boss Big Ger Cafferty, who is showing an unhealthy interest in her while getting in the way of Rebus's investigations.

The strength of this novel lies in the way that Ian Rankin places the murders and the G8 to his exploration of character: We get more insight into Siobhan Clarke as she struggles with her parental relationships. Rebus is brooding on his age and increasing isolation, thinking about the unexpected death of his brother and the way he has messed up with the rest of his family. And, Rebus, has his love of rock music, Pink Floyd, The Who, U2, the Stones-he has every record and Cd and knows every verse and lyric. He often ties the crime to a lyric of a song. Some have mentioned the length of this novel. It may be overly long, but Ian Rankin was able to keep my attention with the depth of his characterization, and he has tied the plot lines together with a twist. There may be but one Rebus novel left. Policeman in Scotland must retire when they reach age 60. Ian Rankin's almost certainly the best crime novelist writing at the moment and there are few to beat him in any other genre

Rebus, as usual battles with a local crime boss, apolitical boss, his police bosses, a corrupt arms dealer and an arrogant Special Branch official from London. He's formed alliances with a reporter, a computer whiz and several police colleagues who can gather data that he cannot. Technology has become of Rebus's 'life and a web site plays heavily into the three murders. He is technically quite proficient as a detective and Rebus is someone I want on my side. Not much escapes him. Rebus and Siobhan are becoming closer and we can see the emotions in Rebus come to the fore. There is respect and love, but unmentioned as of yet.

Ian Rankin has said in an interview , "At the core of The Naming of the Dead is a pretty basic question: What difference do we make in the world? Rebus is cast as the aging cynic, while his colleague Siobhan is younger and more idealistic. So while Rebus is dismissive of the power of rock stars to change the situation in Africa, Siobhan is hopeful. Can concerts alter world events? Can marches and protests change politicians' minds? Can the individual make a difference? Rebus is beginning to realise that during all the years he's been a cop, and for all the bad people he's put behind bars... crime is always with us. As for my own view on all the above... it's somewhere between Rebus and Siobhan!"

Highly Recommended, Comfortably Numb or Not. prisrob 5-27-07

Fleshmarket Alley: An Inspector Rebus Novel

Another Inspector Rebus Triumph.......2007-05-20

In typical fashion, Ian Rankin allows DI Rebus to muddle through another case in spectacular fashion.

Knots and Crosses (An Inspector Rebus Novel)

Average customer rating:

Couldn't get through it
First Rebus novel...x 2
Good, But Not Very
Excellent start to the series
Its OK

Knots and Crosses (An Inspector Rebus Novel)
Ian Rankin
Manufacturer: St. Martin's Paperbacks
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 0312956738

Book Description

Detective John Rebus: His city is being terrorized by a baffling series of murders...and he's tied to a maniac by an invisible knot of blood. Once John Rebus served in Britain's elite SAS. Now he's an Edinburgh cop who hides from his memories, misses promotions and ignores a series of crank letters. But as the ghoulish killings mount and the tabloid headlines scream, Rebus cannot stop the feverish shrieks from within his own mind. Because he isn't just one cop trying to catch a killer, he's the man who's got all the pieces to the puzzle...

Knots and Crosses introduces a gifted mystery novelist, a fascinating locale and the most compellingly complex detective hero at work today.

Customer Reviews:

Couldn't get through it.......2007-06-16

I would give it zero stars but 1 is the minimum.

I was horrified and sickened by the unnnecessary descriptions of the murders, and could not make it past the first third of the book.
I felt no empathy with the main character Rebus.

I won't be reading any more by this author.

First Rebus novel...x 2.......2007-06-11

I first heard of Rankin on an NPR interview a few weeks ago and decided to read one of the Rebus novels. I decided to start at the beginning, as Rankin said his character aged in "real time." The book is short and simple with excellent prose and a very realistic conversational tone in the characters' voices. Rebus is human, flawed and believable as someone who holds the most important piece of the puzzle but cannot see it through his damage psyche. A good read...I am looking forward to the second.

Good, But Not Very.......2007-06-11

There's a scene in this book where Detective John Rebus' boss says that Rebus is "not a very good policeman, just a good one." Well, this book is not a very good book, just a good one. And barely that. Rebus is not a very well-developed character, in my estimation. He's not very credible and, as his boss says, he's barely a good cop. The plot of this novel is uneven and unexceptional. About half way through the book you know where it's going and the ending is unexciting and pedestrian. This is my second try at Rankin. I stopped reading the first one half way through, and I wished I hadn't wasted my time on this one. Adieu, Detective Rebus.

Excellent start to the series.......2007-02-16

This was a top start to the Inspector Rebus series. Ian Rankin wrote an excellent little book that I found to be highly interesting and readable.

It was the kind of book that one can read and while you know it isn't a masterpiece in the vein of a Michael Connelly or James Lee Burke, you can see that the author has all the makings of being a top writer.

Highly recommended.

Its OK.......2007-01-29

The Amazon automated merchandise recommender keeps pushing this series to me because I loved Peter Robinson's Inspector Banks books, so I decided to try it out. This time I decided to do it chronologically. I certainly it gets better than the first book. Not that Knots and Crosses is terrible, it is better than most but I keep getting the feeling that Ian Rankin is capable of a lot more research and be elaborate more on the protagonist and antagonist's relationship. The description of the key to solving the mystery was done in a slap dash manner while I was really hoping for something more substantial.

The characterization was a tad too cliched and workmanlike. The description of the chief protagonist was achingly pedestrian. the typical tortured anti-hero, the strong and silent cowboy non-conformist, no one understands and everyone leaves him because he i so odd, but he has a deadly secret ploy. This wouldn't be so bad except that it has been done to death.

The best parts of the novel is the description of Edinbrough's streetscapes and what lays beneath the glitter and spit shine of the tourist's version of Edinbrough.

All in all and in retrospect, this is an excellent start to a mystery series, but like I said, I was hoping for more. It may be unfair of me to say this but I really the plotting and the writing of Inspector Banks much much better.

But I will go forth and tackle the next one in the series, hopefully it will improve.

Tooth and Nail (An Inspector Rebus Novel)

Average customer rating:

Rebus: Ambition AND ability
An excellent read
Rebus Versus The Wolfman
Wolfman.
Pretty solid, until the final act

Tooth and Nail (An Inspector Rebus Novel)
Ian Rankin
Manufacturer: St. Martin's Paperbacks
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 0312958781

Book Description

Sent to London to help catch a vicious serial killer, Inspector John Rebus teams up with a beautiful psychologist to piece together a portrait of a depraved psychopath bent on painting the town red-with blood...

Customer Reviews:

Rebus: Ambition AND ability.......2007-01-24

Tooth and Nail finds Rebus helping out the London police hunt down the serial killer, Wolfman. The novel is filled with a lot of local London color, including a car chase down St. Martin's Lane and around Nelson's Column. I enjoyed this book immensely until the last 40 pages, where killer is caught based on an unsubstantiated "hunch".

Being from NYC I found Rebus's take on fast London city life very amusing. Several pages are devoted to Rebus contemplating the utter inhumanity of the Tube! In fact, the only positive comments come from Rebus's would-be partner, George Flight, although Rebus mocks his attitude: "London is bigger, better, rougher, tougher and more important than anywhere else." It's funny that we would want other people to think our city is rough and tough, because that implies that we are as well, when we are actually victims. Fortunately, from the novel I learned a new way to cope: just chant FYTP.

Rankin is a master at capturing the reader's attention. Clues and red herrings fly like nobody's business. Just keep in mind that this is crime fiction not mystery, that is, don't expect the clues to pan out. The dialog is amazingly realistic, witty, and edgy. Ultimately, Rebus's humanity (he describes himself as having "more ambition than talent") and musings on the human condition are the reason why I find this novel, and Rankin's others, so compelling.

An excellent read.......2006-03-30

This is Rankin at his best. Buy it, enjoy the thriller and then buy the next one. It seems that once you've started reading Rebus, you just can't get enough!

Rebus Versus The Wolfman.......2005-04-15

I'm baaaaaack!

After reading the first Rebus novel (Knots and Crosses), I knew I'd continue to read the rest of Ian Rankin's excellent crime fiction stories.

This is actually the third novel in the Inspector Rebus series, and author Ian Rankin's prose continues to astound me. He masterfully weaves a tapestry of plot, character, and location throughout nearly every page (Example from the prologue: `She drives home the knife. The moment, she knows from past experience, is a very intimate one. Her hand is gripped around the knife's cool handle and the thrust takes the blade into the throat up to the hilt until her hand meets the throat itself. Flesh upon flesh. Jacket first, or woollen jersey, cotton shirt or T-shirt, then flesh. Now rent. The knife is writhing, like an animal sniffing. Warm blood covering hilt and hand. (The other hand covers the mouth, stifling screams.) The moment is complete. A meeting. Touching. The body hot, gaping, warm with blood. Seething inside, as insides become outsides. Boiling. The moment is coming to an end all too soon.')

But this time we're no longer in Edinburgh. No? No. Inspector Rebus is sent to London (Oh the pain!) to try and help catch a serial killer whom the local coppers can't pin down. They've nick-named the murderer "The Wolfman", because he bites the victims on the stomach after he kills them. But why send Rebus? Well, in Knots and Crosses, he helped find another serial killer in Edinburgh, and so George Flight (a local London CID guy) requested Scotland's "expert". Rebus sees himself as anything BUT an expert on such things, but reluctantly goes to England's capital to do what he can.

Come to find out, he can do quite a bit; including getting into lots of trouble. He falls for a beautiful psychologist named Liza Frazer (who might have connections with the killer!), disappears for hours or days on end, drinks like a fish, and goes on television and announces that they've caught the killer (even when he knows they haven't). But Rebus' mind works a bit differently than most folks. He can worm his way into a killer's mind as the case unfolds. And we again see how Rebus' past comes to the forefront and aids him in capturing the villain.

The great thing about Rebus is that he's so f#$%ed up that the reader can identify with all of his vices and character flaws. He's no superhuman, and he knows it. But what he does have is a nose for killers, and this bodes poorly for them. Because once Rebus is on your trail, you'll never get away.

Now, it's on to the next in the series!

Wolfman........2005-02-06

He had wanted to update Robert Louis Stevenson's "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" for modern times, Ian Rankin writes about his first Inspector Rebus novel, "Knots and Crosses" in the introduction to the British compilation "Rebus: The Early Years" (unfortunately, not available in the U.S.), which contains the first three installments of the series. Oblivious to the mere existence of such a thing as the mystery genre - or so Rankin says - he was stunned to soon hear his book described first and foremost as a crime novel. But eventually this characterization prompted him to have a closer look at the work of other mystery writers, and he found that the form suited his purposes just fine; that in fact he "could say everything [he] wanted to say about the world, and still give readers a pacy, gripping narrative."

Bearing in mind the original duality of Jekyll and Hyde, however, Rankin's tales are not dominated by a contrast painted in black and white. While the villains Inspector Rebus faces are certainly every bit as evil as Stevenson's Mr. Hyde, Rebus himself is far from a clean-slated "good guy:" Divorced, cynical, hard-drinking and a former member of the SAS, he is a brother in spirit to every noir detective from Dashiell Hammett's Sam Spade and Raymond Chandler's Philip Marlowe to Michael Connelly's Harry Bosch, James Ellroy's squad of crooked cops and Peter Robinson's Alan Banks. Nor is Rebus's Edinburgh the touristy town of Calton Hill, castle and Summer Festival (although the series has meanwhile sparked real-life guided tours to its most famous locations, too) - as befitting a true detective of his ilk, Rankin's antihero moves primarily in the city's dark and dirty underbelly, which is populated by society's losers and where those who have "made it," those with money in their pockets, only show up if they have shady deals to conduct as well.

"Tooth and Nail" (originally titled "Wolfman," for the alias that police have given the subject of their hunt) takes Rebus to London, where - due an earlier case of his own reluctantly deemed an "expert" on serial murderers - he is to assist metro CID with the case of a killer named for the bite marks he leaves on his victims' bodies. Not overly enthusiastic about any aspect of his mission to the capital (and thus mirroring once more the feelings of Rankin himself, who did not much like living there, either, and "brought Rebus to London so he could suffer, too"), Rebus soon alienates his metro counterpart by his constant unwillingness to follow protocol, although the two men get along reasonably well on a personal level. Eventually, Rebus so seriously jeopardizes his and - by extension - Edinburgh CID's reputation with the Met that he is about to be recalled home, when he finally makes the crucial connection that unmasks the killer, just in time to save the young psychologist who has offered her help with the case and who is his latest love interest. (As befits a good noir detective, Rebus has a new flame in every book, not without incurring fresh scars from each separation, however.)

While this series had a terrific start already in its first three novels, published between 1987 and 1992, Rebus's character - and Rankin's writing - has evolved significantly over time. Thus, it is probably wise to read it in the order of publication. Contrary to his nonseries novels, however, which he views much more critically in hindsight, Ian Rankin overall still seems to be happy with his early Rebus books, commenting almost nostalgically: "I can't read them without thinking back to my own early years, my apprenticeship as a crime writer. Read and enjoy." I have nothing to add to that ...

Pretty solid, until the final act.......2005-01-24

This was the first Rebus novel I've read, and it probably won't be the last. The story concerns the "Wolfman" a serial killer on the lose in London who has a habit of killing and mutilating a variety of women in a unique way. Detective John Rebus is called down from Edinburgh to assist on the case.

Rankin's writing put me in mind of the Hannibal Lector books by Thomas Harris. There is a similarly bleak but humanistic writing style to both authors. Rankin's worldview is undeniably grim, but there is enough humor in the book to keep it from being completely depressing.

"Tooth and Nail" is a quick read, but when I think about it not all that much happens in the book. There are no real ingenious plot twists, and the way the killer is eventually caught is pretty inane. The book sags especially towards the end, with a chase scene that seems lifted out of a bad Hollywood movie. And the killer's motivations when they are finally revealed are frankly not convincing, at least not as portrayed here.

Having said that, I should probably give the book fewer stars, but I will give it four stars on the strength of Rankin's writing and characters. Hopefully his other books have stronger plots.

Average customer rating:

Great Mysteries
Flawed, but always striving for justice
This Man's Writing is Addictive and Should Come With a Warning Label
Very Good Service
Edinburgh is nearly as vivid as Rebus

Let It Bleed (An Inspector Rebus Novel)
Ian Rankin
Manufacturer: St. Martin's Paperbacks
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 0312966652

Book Description

In the dark days and biting windstorms of an Edinburgh winter, two drop-out kids dive off the towering Forth Road Bridge. A civic office is spattered by a grisly gun-blast. Two suicides and a murder that just don't add up, unless John Rebus can crunch the numbers. Following a trail that snakes through stark alleys and sad bars, shredded files and lacerated lives, Rebus finds himself up against an airtight, murderous conglomerate on the make in every arena of power. It's leeching the life and soul out of his city and, if it can, him too...

Customer Reviews:

Great Mysteries.......2006-07-20

I recommend every book by this author. Whenever I start an Inspector Rebus, I don't want to put it down.

Flawed, but always striving for justice.......2006-05-02

LET IT BLEED is a prime example of Ian Rankin's Rebus, bucking the system in order to pursue the pure essence of justice, consequences be damned. Far from a Galahad, Rebus is a deeply flawed man, tough on family and any who try to get too near, entirely too dependent on alcohol to quell the feeling of rage and hurt he feels.
The gradual shift from a search for a solution to some mysterious suicides to finding a way to punish those who seem to be beyond punishment is classic Rankin. Rebus's response to the class system seems much more than a plot device; it becomes a vital link to understanding Rebus a bit better. His rage, when directed at injustice is a fearsome weapon, but it also becomes evident how important his life as policeman is to his continued existence. Rankin continues to combine an excellent procedural with a truly interesting and believable figure. LET IT BLEED is an excellent example of when Rankin is firing on all cylinders.

This Man's Writing is Addictive and Should Come With a Warning Label.......2006-04-23

More than the seven books before it, this one builds from a tiny thread until it creates a magnificent tapestry. Starting with a car chase, after two supposed kidnappers, in which "Fart" Lauderdale is taken out of the picture, and replace by Rebus' old flame Gill Templer; to the end, where "Wee Weed" Flower gets his just desserts, the action just builds and builds.

Though he loses Patience, in more than one way, he gains a better and stronger relationship with his daughter Sammy, who has come back to Edinburgh to do social work with prisoners and ex-cons.
I won't tell you the story because that's why you read the book in the first place, and I would only spoil some of the more surprising parts. But, all you favorite characters and neighborhoods are in it, or their facsimilies.

I do have two complaints: 1) John is getting to the point where he needs to go into AA, and after the accident he now has more burns, brakes and bruises than Luke Davenport, 2) Ian has to learn to write better dialogue in the american vernacular if he is going to include one as a character. I know Rankin, FYTP.

Slainte.

Very Good Service.......2006-01-16

despite the order being placed so near to Christmas and the projected delivery date being in the new year, I received this item in plenty of time to gift wrap it for Christmas.
Very good service indeed!

Edinburgh is nearly as vivid as Rebus.......2004-06-03

Scottish author Rankin's eighth Inspector John Rebus novel begins on "A winter night, screaming out of Edinburgh." A car chase in pursuit of two young maybe-kidnappers, ends in violence and suicide, launching this dark, atmospheric tale of conspiracy and greed.

The Edinburgh winter is nearly as vivid a character as the intense, brooding Rebus. Alone again and incapable of expressing his emotions, Rebus lives for his job and sleeps in his chair - after more than a few pints and shots.

Still haunted by the surreal death of the would-be kidnappers, Rebus is confronted with another spectacular suicide, this one for the edification of an ambitious councilman. Doggedly pursuing tenuous connections, Rebus begins to unravel an elaborate scheme with roots in the prisons and slums and the highest offices in Scotland. And more people die.

Book Description

In Edinburgh you're never far from a peaceful spot, or from a hellish one either. Now, in the heart of summer, in the midst of a nationalist festival, Inspector John Rebus is on the murder case of a young man left hanging in a spot where his screams would never be heard. To find the victim's identity--and his killer--Rebus searches from Edinburgh's most violent neighborhood to Belfast, Northern Ireland--amongst petty thugs, gunrunners, and heavyweight criminals. But before Rebus can get to the truth, he's bloodied by the dream of society's madmen--and staring into the glint of a killer's eyes.

Customer Reviews:

The Best of the Firth Five.......2006-04-14

A boy is found tortured in an underground alley in Edinburg that is below the local courthouse. This is just the beginning of the best Rebus yet. The story itself is intriguing and thought provoking (it has to do with a home grown terrorist group that is working with the Protestant Paramilitaries in Northern Ireland). As the story builds, we meet some old friends that we didn't think we'd see again, and some new ones we hope never to see again.

Rankin always does a great job in tying in humor and the comic relief in this one is precious (not to mention with a lot of patience). Unlike the last two, this is really a one man show, and John gets beat up, beat on, and seriously pummeled. (I would sure like for Rankin to take it easy on this guy, since he quickly approaching 50). John's instincts are amazing and he is as relentless as a junkyard dog with a new bone.

A great fun read.

Rankin at his finest.......2004-07-01

I have to admit that I am an Ian Rankin junkie. I have never been much of a murder-mystery devotee, but Rankin has a way with drama and putting characters together within the Edinburgh context that is exceptional. Mortal Causes is one of my favorite Rankin mysteries because it breaks away from many of his typical roles. Inspector Rebus is not called on the carpet, as usual, he is hard on the case, and we have the chance to see a bit of his own personal history. This novel is an 'easy read' and I found it thoroughly delightful.

Nice Yarn.......2004-05-13

It's a good thing that Inspector Rebus is so smart. Otherwise, drinking too much and losing every fight he gets into would surely do him in. When a brutally murdered body turns up during the Edinburgh Festival, Rebus starts our tour of the city's seamier underside. There are more than enough additional murders, beatings, pubs, slums, betrayals, and manipulations to satisfy any mystery fan. The story is taut, well-paced, and peopled by memorable, well-developed characters. Although there was a bit too much impenetrable British slang for my taste, it certainly adds credibility and color to the tale. Pour yourself a single-malt, sit back, and enjoy the ride.

Troubles In Edinburgh.......2001-06-28

After a particularly gruesome murder is discovered during Edinburgh's Fringe Festival, Inspector John Rebus is seconded to the elite Scottish Crime Squad. The reason for this is that aspects of the murder make it appear that a terrorist group was responsible and Rebus's previous SAS experience would come in handy. The investigation takes him from his home base to the villages of rural Scotland and across to Belfast and back again.

Throughout the book, the Catholic versus Protestant problem is continually raised, comparing Scotland to the Troubles in Northern Ireland and suggesting that the same uprising could be imminent. While the characters were discussing terrorist organisations there were enough three letter acronyms being bandied about to make me think I might have stumbled into a Microsoft manual.

Once again we are treated to the bare bones of Edinburgh's back streets and dingy estates that have fallen into ruin. Rebus is as inscrutable and removed from his fellow officers as ever, yet, at least for me, he is becoming more and more likable. I feel this series is getting more and more enjoyable with every book I read, this one is no exception.

mortal causes.......2000-08-09

well where to start,again rankin astuonds me with his talent.The plots always twist and turn but never to the extreme of you losing the thread, beatifully deep rich characters with a high sense of realism. I first discover rebus series a few years and now it's worse than a bad coke habit, when you "score" a new novel you just want to be left alone to devour it. must be at least on par with james ellory. if you enjoy police books then this must be the best contempory series come on ian , we want more

Hide and Seek (An Inspector Rebus Novel)

Average customer rating:

Ian Rankin/Inspector Rebus take Hide and Seek to a new level.
Disappointing
Not too impressed
I somehow missed this one
On hunting a modern-day Mr. Hyde.

Hide and Seek (An Inspector Rebus Novel)
Ian Rankin
Manufacturer: St. Martin's Paperbacks
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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The Black Book

ASIN: 0312963971

Book Description

At night the summer sky stays light over Edinburgh. But in a shadowy, crumbling housing development, a junkie lies dead of an overdose, his bruised body surrounded by signs of Satanic worship. John Rebus could call the death and accident--but won't. Instead, he tracks down a violent-tempered young woman who knew the dead boy and heard him cry out his terrifyng last words: "Hide! Hide!" Now, with the help of a bright, conflicted young detective, Rebus is following the girl through a brutal world of bad deals, bad dope and bad company. From a beautiful city's darkest side to the private sanctums of the upper crust, Rebus is seeking the perfect hiding place for a killer.

Customer Reviews:

Ian Rankin/Inspector Rebus take Hide and Seek to a new level........2007-04-28

I have to say that I wasn't sure what to think of this book, especially since I'm not a big fan of mystery/detective books, but I read Ian's first book in the series and enjoyed it so I thought I'd see if he could keep my interest on the second......and boy did he!!!! It still boggles my mind how Ian writes a 210 page book with so many twist and turns and yet it never feels like he has to rush to finish the story. I guess what I'm saying is that this book flows extremely well for having so much going on and yet it only takes him 210 pages to wrap up the story! Inspector Rebus continues to grow as the main character in this book and he has a great mix of "hard edge attitude", the ability to "turn on the charm", and yet still be human and have "weak" moments as well. It also helps that Ian has added some side characters from the police force to help readers undertsand how John Rebus interacts with his fellow co-workers (on and off the job). If you are new to this series, get the first book (Knots and Crosses) then get this book. However, you will be fine buying this book even if you didn't read the first one. Either way, you won't regret it.....I sure didn't.

Disappointing.......2007-03-12

I couldn't get into this book. I didn't think the characters were very interesting and I really couldn't get too excited about the plot. Perhaps I found the characters too pathetic. Also, this was my first Rebus book and I must say, I don't like him much as a character. Some of the description about Edinburgh was interesting but I guess I just found the book too sordid, too boring.

Not too impressed.......2006-12-02

Stop reading this if you have not read the novel, because a spoiler follows.I sure have read a lot of great comments about Ian Rankin. Comparisons to Michael Connely caused me to search him out. Not in the same league in my book. A so so story with a hard to believe plot. Does every wealthy man in Edinburgh enjoy wathcing underage junkies beat the heck out of each other and then have sex with them or watch their buddies do so? They sure are having a gay old time in Rankin's sordid Edinburgh. I liked the Rebus character, but I don't plan to seek him out again.

I somehow missed this one.......2005-09-13

While living in Spain, I had to get most of my books from Amazons UK site. That is how I discovered this author. I thought I had read all his Ins. Rebus novels, but missed this and found it here. It is as good as the rest. I have never been dissapointed in his stories. Some are weaker than others, but none have I not enjoyed. It was nice reading this one as it gave me more background on Rebus' past.
He is a very well fleshed out character, with a very intriguing personality. Rankin also describes Edinborough very well, and gives a very good impression of the city.
If you haven't read a Rebus novel, do. If possible start with the earliest and go in order, as his background develops with each novel.
Highly recommended

On hunting a modern-day Mr. Hyde........2004-03-09

Bearing in mind the original duality of Jekyll and Hyde, however, Rankin's tales are not dominated by a contrast painted in black and white. While the villains Inspector Rebus faces are certainly every bit as evil as Stevenson's Mr. Hyde, Rebus himself is far from a clean-slated "good guy:" Divorced, cynical, hard-drinking and a former member of the SAS, he is a brother in spirit to every noir detective from Dashiell Hammett's Sam Spade and Raymond Chandler's Philip Marlowe to Michael Connelly's Harry Bosch, James Ellroy's squad of crooked cops and Peter Robinson's Alan Banks. Nor is Rebus's Edinburgh the touristy town of Calton Hill, castle and Summer Festival (although the series has meanwhile sparked real-life guided tours to its most famous locations, too) - as befitting a true detective of his ilk, Rankin's antihero moves primarily in the city's dark and dirty underbelly, which is populated by society's losers and where those who have "made it," those with money in their pockets, only show up if they have shady deals to conduct as well.

The title of Rankin's second Rebus novel, "Hide and Seek," is an even more overt play on Robert Louis Stevenson's famous dual character(s) than the mere juxtaposition of cop and killer in "Knots and Crosses;" and when the villain's identity is finally unveiled, the parallels between this book and Stevenson's become even more obvious. Here, Rebus is on the hunt for the killer of a junkie whose half-naked body is found in a run-down, deserted building in the Pilmuir housing estates - the worst part of town, notwithstanding a nearby construction project involving high-priced luxury condominiums - positioned crucifixion-style and near a drawing possibly hinting at Satanic rituals. And Rebus's only witness seems to be the young woman who had been living with the dead man for the last three months and heard him yell "Hide!" before pushing her out of the door, telling her: "They've murdered me;" but who is now more than just a little reluctant to cooperate, taking refuge, instead, behind an almost unbreakable rebel-against-society-facade, complete with peroxide hair, stud earrings and Attitude with a capital "A."

While this series had a terrific start already in its first two novels, published in 1987 and 1991, Rebus's character - and Rankin's writing - has evolved significantly over time. Thus, it is probably wise to read it in the order of publication. Contrary to the novels he wrote under the pseudonym Jack Harvey, however, and which he views much more critically in hindsight, Ian Rankin overall still seems to be happy with his early Rebus books, commenting: "I can't read them without thinking back to my own early years, my apprenticeship as a crime writer. Read and enjoy." I have nothing to add to that ...

Set in Darkness: An Inspector Rebus Novel
Average customer rating:

Alfred Hitchcock would have loved John Rebus' Character

It's a stretch to tie this all together.

A Book that is Dark, Brooding and Forbidding and Very Alive

One of those books you can't wait to get back to...

Murder in Parliament, Then and Now

Set in Darkness: An Inspector Rebus Novel
Ian Rankin
Manufacturer: St. Martin's Minotaur
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 0312977891

Amazon.com

Edinburgh police inspector John Rebus's obsession--rock & roll--seems odd for a man whose dark, depressed side is so central to his character, but Ian Rankin always manages to work it gracefully into his noirish novels featuring Rebus. In Set in Darkness, Rebus has a fling with Lorna Grieve, a faded rock muse who's the sister of Roddy Grieve, an up-and-coming politico who turns up dead on the grounds of the boarded-up hospital that's being torn down to make way for the new Scottish Parliament. Grieve's body is the second in the space of days found at Queensberry House; the first was a skeleton bricked up in the fireplace. That decades-old murder seems to be tied to the suicide of a mysterious homeless man whose hefty bank balance is revealed well before his true identity. <blockquote>'So what's the story with Mr Supertramp anyway?'

'He had all this money he either couldn't spend or didn't want to. He took on a new identity. My theory is that he was hiding.'

'Maybe.' He was rifling through the scraps on the desk. She folded her arms, gave him a hard look which he failed to notice. He opened the bread bag and shook out the contents: disposable razor, a sliver of soap, toothbrush. 'An organized mind,' he said. 'Makes himself a wash bag. Doesn't like being dirty.'

'It's like he was acting the part,' she said.</blockquote> There are always plenty of subplots in a Rankin mystery. This time he adds a stalker who happens to be one of Rebus's colleagues, a couple of toughs who hang out in singles clubs and finish their evenings with a rape or two, and the ongoing story of Rebus's tortured past--a bitter divorce, a daughter still recovering from a terrible accident, and a drinking problem. Set in Darkness hit the bestseller list in Great Britain and should enjoy the same success in its U.S. edition. Rankin's ability to keep finding new dimensions in Rebus, handle intricate plot details brilliantly, and evoke the gloom and darkness of his setting keep winning him new admirers, with just cause. --Jane Adams

Book Description

On the eve of the first Scottish parliament in three hundred years, Edinburgh is a city rife with political passions and expectations. Queensbury House, the home of Scotland's new rulers, falls in the middle of John Rebus' turf, keeping him busy with ceremonial tasks. That quickly changes, however, when a long-dead body is discovered in a Queensbury House fireplace, a homeless man throws himself off a bridge - leaving behind a suitcase full of cash - and an up-and-coming politician is found murdered. The links between the three deaths lead Rebus to a confrontation with one of Edinburgh's most notorious criminals, a man he thought he'd put in jail for life. Someone's going to make a lot of money out of Scotland's independence - and, as Rebus knows all too well, where there's big money at stake, darkness gathers.

Customer Reviews:

Alfred Hitchcock would have loved John Rebus' Character.......2006-06-11

Once again (it's so repetitious) Ian Rankin has written a novel that is almost perfect in every way. The story just seems to grow as it goes along, and the characters appear as if this is just a narrative of some tragedy that actually happened and Rankin is just the reporter.

A murder (of a man of a well known family who is standing for the Scottish Parliment and brother of an MP), a suicide (by a man we would call a street person) and a dead body (murdered twenty years ago and wall up in a building under renovation. All this is happening around and in the new Scottish Parliment building and John and Siobhan are off on the most interesting story so far (until the next one).

With the imminent retirement of the Chief Super, Farmer Watson, we know that John is in for trouble with whoever becomes his next boss. It's nice to see Watson get in a few good licks before he leaves the scene. Another DI (the blue eyed boy), is sent by Fettes to watch over this case which they feel is too high profile for a maverick like Rebus.

Of course Rebus gets on his bad side immediately, not to mention everyone else. But with the tenacity that he brings to everything his does, Rebus will find out the truth in the end. What he's not expecting is how. Once again a great read.

It's a stretch to tie this all together........2006-03-08

A body found in a bricked up fireplace after twenty years, a murdered candidate for Scottish parliament, and a suicide with a big secret and it all ties together? Well, it's a bit of a stretch in this one. Renkin works hard and it shows. This is a disparate lot of puzzles, and it is really reaching to work them together. Without the deus ex machina in the form of Rebus's favorite foe, Big Ger it wouldn't really happen at all. It is this occasional dependence on the Scottish crime lord that often works against the series, sometimes it seems an easy way out when Rebus needs something done, either directly or indirectly, and in pops Cafferty. This is a solid outing, but too many characters pop in and out without real purpose making the novel probably 100 pages more than it needs to be.

A Book that is Dark, Brooding and Forbidding and Very Alive.......2004-04-04

Hard-drinking, hard-smoking, divorced Edinburgh cop DI John Rebus is a man who does things his way as he moves through the brooding city of Edinburgh, searching for both his own lost soul and the criminals who lurk in its dark places. DI Derek Linford, in contrast, does things the boss's way, much to Rebus's chagrin.

Both are seconded to the police liaison team for the new Scottish Parliament at Queensberry House when a corpse is found hidden behind a fireplace in one of the parliament buildings. From the condition of the body, it appears that it's been there a long time, years, decades.

A few days later the body of Roddy Grieve, a Labor Party candidate for a seat in the new parliament, is found on the grounds. Grieve comes from a well-known Scottish family. His mother is a famous artist, his brother is a Tory MP, his sister is an ex-supermodel married to an ageing rock star and there is another brother who went missing 20 years ago. Sniffing about for clues as only he can, Rebus comes to suspect the body in the fireplace may be connected to Grieve's murder.

Meanwhile, Rebus's former partner, Detective Sergeant Siobhan Clarke, is driving home one evening when she happens to see a homeless man leap to his death from a bridge. Following up, she discovers that the supposedly poor and destitute man had over £400,000 in a building society account. He also had the same name as the man whose remains were found behind that fireplace.

Add to the above the escalating violence of a serial rapist who targets women in singles clubs and, as if that isn't enough, Rebus must face the unexpected prison release of his old nemesis, Edinburgh crime boss Big Ger Cafferty, whose interest in Rebus isn't exactly friendly. And through all this, Rebus has to work alongside Linford, a paper pusher on the fast track to promotion.

Little of modern Edinburgh has escaped Rankin's attention here. In fact, one might mistake this excellent novel as a travel guide about where not to go when visiting there. However, there is hope in this book, too. It's just that sometimes it's just a little hard to find, especially when Rankin writes about, corruption, homelessness and despair as if he's been there and seen it all. Yes, this is a dark book. It's also a book that stands apart from others in the genre. It's the kind of book the others aspire to.

Haley Lawford, SV Cheerleader Too

One of those books you can't wait to get back to..........2003-12-10

This is my second book by Ian Rankin but it won't be my last. I really loved this mystery -- it was full of atmosphere, characters with depth and vitality, well plotted, and a page turner -- what more can you ask for?

The plot involves two murder investigations -- one from the past, based on a 20 year old skeleton of unknown identity found in the course of renovating a very old building to become the new Scottish Parliament; the second involves a politician found murdered nearby in the construction area. Additionally, there is a suicide of a homeless man shortly after the skeleton is discovered. Who is this man, was it suicide, and why? The homeless man turns out to have some very surprising qualities. Inspector Rebus (who is considered the bane of his department) comes to believe that all three deaths are somehow related. The Grieve family (the family of the murdered politician) may be at the center of all three deaths -- or maybe not. Maybe they really ARE unconnected, as the powers that be are assuming. TO make matters more difficult, Rebus is being forced to work with an ambitious young man who is the "fair haired boy" of the powers-that-be, but who doesn't have Rebus's respect -- so he must content with the politics of the situation as well, which is not Rebus's long suit.

This series is set in Edinburgh, Scotland, but not in the touristy Edinburgh but in the tough underbelly, where there are pubs that it is wisest not to go into and where there are gangs and thugs. The location is so well described that it is easy to imagine being there.

All in all, I have no hesitation in giving this mystery 5 stars. The only question is which Rankin book I read next.

Murder in Parliament, Then and Now.......2003-10-10

Detective Inspector John Rebus always under scrutiny from his superiors is thrust into the political spotlight when a Member of Parliament is found slain on the grounds of the newly renovated Scottish Parliament building. Then another body turns up, but this one died about twenty years ago and was just discovered in the boarded up basement fireplace among the renovations. Tact is called for, instead Rebus brings turmoil and trouble, but he does solve the crime, both of them.

This is my fourth Inspector Rebus novel and I guess I've going to have to go back and read them all, they are that good.

Book Description

When respected MP Gregor Jack is caught in a police raid on an Edinburgh brothel and his flamboyant wife Elizabeth suddenly disappears, John Rebus smells a set-up. And when Elizabeth's badly beaten body is found, Rebus is suddenly up against a killer who holds all the cards..

Customer Reviews:

best ever Rebus?.......2007-05-10

Having grown up in Scotland I've read quite a few of these out of pure nostalgia for the olde country......this one is perhaps the best I've read so far as Rankin ditches the faux working class realism of junkies and serial killers and moves into perhaps his own (and therefore most comfortable) world, that of the Range Rover driving middle classes. At heart Rebus, with his flat and his girlfriends and hi-fi, is still a middle class hero, and I can picture him having a couple of pints with Inspector Morse, even if Rankin would perhaps shudder at that thought........

Most excellent.......2007-05-05

When I chanced upon Ian Rankin's Inspector Rebus series I took no chances and tucked into it with gusto. The first in the series, Knots and Crosses wasn't all that, in fact it wasn't a very stron mystery. But as I went through the series one by one, the experienced stopped being a slop and became more os a joy. This book has been very entertaining and has rewarded my faith in Rankin.

The storyline and plot are structures in Rankin's novels. Not that they are bad but they are merely one of many reasons to read the book. His writing is gossipy, psychological, sometimes schizophrenic but always rewarding to the reader because it encompasses so much. This story had the best flowing narrative so far. The description of the crime scene investigation part of the story is detailed, horryfying, and fascinating, even though it is just a peripheral part of the story. The discourses on books and the literary world is also fascinating but also peripheral. This series embodies all that is great with a multifaceted explorarion of crime and crime solving with hte grit and realism of a Dashiel Hammett novel.

Each Book Gets Better.......2006-03-27

This is the fifth of the series that I've read, and all I can say is that Rankin/Rebus get better as the series grows and so does the character. Rankin does a good job of filling in the personality of Rebus and his supporting cast ('Farmer' Watson, 'Fart' Lauderdale, Brian Holmes...etc) and their working relationships.

In this book we also get a travelogue of the areas north of Edinburgh, but we also get an insight into how Rankin/Rebus feels about politics, the old and new rich, the pressure that the media can put on the police, as well as the presumption of authority.

All in all this is a fine addition to the series.

This is my introduction to the Rebus series..........2005-06-03

And I think it's safe to say I couldn't find a successful complaint. The characters are complex and human, thankfully drawn out in a 3-D shape which helped me actuall care about the characters. John Rebus is no hero, he's just a guy who does his damn job. Brian Holmes I found to be a good character, quite happy with his involvement.

I never once found myself bored by this book and was quite impressed with how Ian Rankin kept me entertained with his mix of dark humour and dark side of the streets of Scotland. It's a bit hard to join up in the middle of a series but I think Ian Rankin did well with that part of the job. I hope I will read more of Ian Rankin's boks and hope I am as entertained by them as I was by this one.

"MP Gregor Jack is caught in an Edinburgh brothel with a prostitute who is only too keen to show off her considerable assets. Initially, Detective Inspector Rebus is sympathetic to the MP's dilemma - who hasn't occasionally succumbed to temptation? The Jack's wife disappears. Someone want's to strip Jack naked and Rebus want's to know why."

Very good!.......2004-03-17

This is my first Ian Rankin novel. Although I find the TV version of Rebus (BBC) interesting and stylish, the episodes are very moody, dark and gristly. I was a little worried that the book would be the same way, however, it was excellent, witty and complicated! The reader took a little getting used to, but I got into it and enjoyed it.

I am giving it 4 stars instead of five because I thought the ending was good, but not great.

Book Description

Five years ago, a mysterious fire burned Edinburgh's seed Central Hotel to ashes. Long-forgotten and unsolved, the case reappears when a charred body--with a bullet in its head--is found amongst the ruins. Inspector John Rebus knows that his superiors would rather he let sleeping dogs lie. He knows that part of the answer lies somewhere in a cryptic black notebook. Ane he knows that to solve teh case, he'll have to peel back layer upon layer of unspeakable secrets to arrive at the truth. . .

Customer Reviews:

Make sure you book a weekend to read this one.......2006-04-08

Once again Ian Rankin has written a splendid mystery novel starring our favorite Edinburgh DI John Rebus. He drinks, he doesn't smoke, he drives, he gets hit by a car, he ends up back in his apartment which is masquerading as a college dorm and drop in, he gets hit on the head, he gets called on the carpet and suspended. But in the end he sets all things (well almost all) to right.

Three loose ends are: What is going to be the final determination for Brian Holmes, is this the end of his relationship with Dr. Patience (and the beginning with a certain DC), and will he ever be able to shut-up, behave himself so that the Farmer can promote him.

A great read, plan on finishing in two days, if you work hard at it.

The Black Book.......2005-06-03

This novel is full of many different storylines all bumping togetheer as John Rebus tries to do what he does best and that's solve crimes. This includes the introduction of Morris Gerald Cafferty and DC Siobhan Clarke, who would go on to become a main part of this series in later novels.

Rebus is suffering from many things, including: trouble with his girlfriend Patience, investigating a man being stabbed and then walking into a butchers shop owned by his cousin, and his good friend DC Brian Holmes being attacked outside a restaurant. This book really holds the reader as it experiences the cold murders and attacks along with the dark "black humour" that Detective Inspector Rebus uses to get through life. Easilly readable, highly recommended.

"When a close colleague is brutally attacked, Rebus is drawn into a case involving a hotel fire, an unidentified body and a long-forgoten night of terror and murder. Pursued by dangerous ghosts and tormented by the coded secrets of the colleague's notebook, Rebus must piece together a jigsaw that no one else seems to want completed."

Moody and suspenseful.......2004-09-09

Rankin's Edinburgh police Inspector John Rebus forges a narrow path through office politics, his shambles of a life, and the mean streets of his city in this 1994 novel.

The title refers to a notebook found on one of Rebus's men, ambushed outside a favorite nightspot and remaining unconscious in the hospital.

Determined to find out who wanted to silence the policeman, Rebus deciphers the notes and finds himself pursuing a five-year-old arson and murder case while maintaining a pointless surveillance on a bookie insisted upon by his superiors.

Rankin's writing is as gritty and moody as his put-upon hero, with his shambles of a personal life. Steeped in an atmosphere of Edinburgh's shadowy and unsavory corners, "The Black Book" is a taut, suspenseful tale.

Blackout over Knockout.......2002-11-27

Author of a Gold Dagger Winner and Edgar nominee, Ian Rankin writes of a detective in Scotland that champions a 5-year old murder investigation.
John Rebus, the protagonist, is a rough-hewn character with uncanning ability to 'play' the other characters. Although Rebus's character is fully developed, I found Rankin left many characters lacking substance. This dissonance was illuminated through Rankin's difficulty to transition between chapters, which he delivers in an arbitrary and awkward attempt to expand minor-character attributes.
The foundation of this novel (approx 225 pgs.) is a little weak, but the final 125 pages will keep you engaged. I had a difficult time following all the minor character developments, which I believe distracted from the strength of John Rebus. "The Black Book," is substantially short of a knockout and much closer to a blackout.
This novel was recommended by a friend of mine, but I would be hesitant to read this author in the future. In a saturated genre like crime-novels, I suggest that you only read 5-star books, because there is a cornucopia available. This is not a 5-star novel.

Criminal not to read this!.......2002-03-20

Ian Rankin must now hold the position as one of the UK's finest crime writers with his 5th "Inspector Rebus novel", The Black
Book. Set in the depths of Edinburgh's criminal fraternity, Rankin captures the persona of a hard-nosed Scottish policeman,
(John Rebus) as he attempts to solve a five-year old case. Notes about it are hidden in a black book kept by his colleague,
Brian Holmes, the victim of a brutal assault. The scene is the Central Hotel, a paradise for the degeneracy and squalor which
breed within its walls until it is razed to the ground; the eventual investigation yields one dead body but no clues. Five years on and Morris Gerald Cafferty (one of Edinburgh's most notorious criminals) is under surveillance for his role in a gang of loan sharks. In the course of this Rebus is blighted by personal problems and eventual suspension from the police force whilst trying to link the fire at Central Hotel to Cafferty's own illegal dealings. Amidst the lies and intrigue there lies a terrifying link that, if exposed, could result in vicious reprisals for many other people. With all detective novels it is difficult to fully explain a plot without revealing the conclusion but with Rankin, nothing is certain until the final page. This is a stunning piece of work; particularly striking is the originality of the characters and plot that culminates in an energetic yet decisive result. If you read no other crime thriller this year then read Ian Rankin's work, impressive and highly elegant.

The Hanging Garden (An Inspector Rebus Novel)

Average customer rating:

a very tangled story with a complex detective character
Gang warfare breaks out in Edinburgh and Rebus is in the middle of it
Above-Average Police Drama
Fine little book, this.
Hanging by every word in the page

The Hanging Garden (An Inspector Rebus Novel)
Ian Rankin
Manufacturer: St. Martin's Minotaur
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0312969139

Amazon.com

Ian Rankin's ninth book about Inspector John Rebus of the Edinburgh police is so full of story that it seems about to explode into shapeless anarchy at any moment. What keeps it from doing so is Rankin's strong heart and even stronger writing skills. When a Bosnian prostitute refuses to testify against a crime boss who has threatened her family, he says this about the cops trying to pressure her: "Silence in the room. They were all looking at her. Four men, men with jobs, family ties, men with lives of their own. In the scheme of things, they seldom realised how well off they were. And now they realised something else: how helpless they were."

Rebus is trying to help the young woman--renamed Candice by the young, slick, brutal thug Tommy Telford, who is into everything from drugs and prostitution to aiding a Japanese business syndicate in acquiring a local golf course--because she's about the same age and physical aspect as his own daughter, Sammy. He's also conducting the investigation of a suspected Nazi war criminal, an old man who spends his time tending graves in Warriston cemetery. "A cemetery should have been about death, but Warriston didn't feel that way to Rebus. Much of it resembled a rambling park into which some statuary had been dropped," Rankin writes with the icy clarity of cold water over stone.

Add to this Rebus's involvement with an imprisoned crime boss in a plan to bring Telford down; his continuing battle with drink; the strong possibility that people high up in the British government don't want the old Nazi exposed; danger to Sammy and her journalist lover because of her father's work; and a somewhat strained metaphor of Edinburgh as a new Babylon and you have an admittedly large pot of stew. But Rankin's high art keeps it all bubbling and rich with flavor. Others in the Rebus series include his 1997 Edgar Award-nominated Black and Blue, as well as Hide and Seek, Knots and Crosses, Let It Bleed, Mortal Causes, Strip Jack, and Tooth and Nail. --Dick Adler

Book Description

The Hanging Gardens of Babylon... The hanging of four French villagers in World War II... The hanging of an old man in a Scottish cemetary... Seemingly random facts linked to one man...

Detective Inspector John Rebus is buried under a pile of paperwork generated by his investigations into a suspected war criminal, and his immediate supervisors are more than happy to have him tucked away in a quiet backwater for several months. However, the escalating dispute between upstart Tommy Telford and Big Ger Cafferty's gang soon gives Rebus an escape clause. Telford is known to have close ties to a man nicknamed Mr. Pink Eyes, a brutal gangster running a lucrative business bringing Chechen refugees into Britain to work as prostitutes. And when Rebus takes under his wing a distraught Bosnian call girl, it gives him a personal reason to make sure Telford takes the high road out of town. Within days, Rebus's daughter is the victim of an all-too-professional hit-and-run, and Rebus knows that there's nothing he won't do to bring down prime suspect Tommy Telford--even if it means cutting a deal with the devil.

A chilling glimpse into the darkest extremes of human cruelty, a page-turning literary thriller, this ninth entry in Ian Rankin's award-winning series confirms his reputation as a writer of rare and lasting gifts.

Customer Reviews:

a very tangled story with a complex detective character.......2006-11-17

Welcome to the dark side of Edinburgh! Once again Inspector John Rebus has a job in the Scottish City. This time it seems that he is painfully, personally involved - his daughter, Sammy, is in a coma after being hit by a car. And he had been hiding a Bosnian girl made prostitute by one of the gangs fighting for dominance over the city, in her apartment...

In "The Hanging Garden" (the first Rankin book I have tried - very encouraging!) perhaps the most interesting thing is the personality of Inspector Rebus and his private phobias and the reminiscences of past mistakes, which seem to overwhelm him quite often as he is immersing himself deeper and deeper into his work. Now he is trying to find out if Joseph Lintz, the retired professor and German immigrant, is a mass murderer from World War II and at the same time to put the Edinburgh emerging mobster, Tommy Telford, behind bars. The Japanese mafia, Yakuza, appears at the scene, as well as the Serbian disfigured gangster Jake Tarawicz from Newcastle, a corrupted Dr Colquhoun, Rebus' ex-wife, Sammy's nosy journalist boyfriend... There is a little too much thrown in for my taste, the plot is very twisted and seems that the author entangled himself too much in it at some point.

Nevertheless, it is worth reading for all those who like Rebus and his complicated mind. His psychological portrait is one of the best in the contemporary mystery fiction. The Edinburgh from Rankin's novels is also much different from its tourist side (which I saw and loved), much more shady and dirty, with all the social classes present and great descriptions of various locations.

Gang warfare breaks out in Edinburgh and Rebus is in the middle of it.......2006-05-13

Eagles: There's a new kid in town

Thomas (Tommy) Telford has come to Edinburgh, and is in the process of taking over Morris Gerald (Big Ger) Cafferty's turf. One of the first casualties turns out to be Rebus' daughter Samantha. It's been hard enough for John, having his daughter working with ex-cons but now she's taken up with a writer-cum-journalist.

While investigating a potential escaped nazi, who came to scotland just after the war and taught at a local college. His investigation leads him to Telfond's mentor, Jake Tarawicz who is based in Newcastle, some Japanese Yakuza who are looking to buy a golf course in the area. During this time he also rescues a prossie who turns out to be an illegal Bosnian, smuggled over the border and forced to work in the sex trade.

With everyone and his brother (and sister) involved in one or two of the concurrent cases he is working on, John is busier than a one armed bartender. He's been on the wagon for five months and has only slipped once. His sponsor, Jack Morton is there at the phone when he needs him, and on the job undercover.

It's hard to believe that in 335 pages, he manages to deal with his daughter's trauma, his ex-wife, ex(?)girlfriend Patience, the hooker, his brother, Siobhan, Jack, Abernathey from London, an ad-hoc member of a Jewish group tracking down nazis, members of three gangs, their bosses and lieutenants, and a problem with customs in Inverness airport. Surprisingly, no one seems to get short-schrift.

As the series has gone along, it has continued to be new and different, without the books becoming formulaic. Let's hope this continues.

Above-Average Police Drama.......2002-10-22

It's perhaps a bit inaccurate to call the Rebus novels "mysteries" in that there is often little mystery to the goings-on. Rankin is a very good writer, but what he does best is setting up strong, shocking, and sometimes moving police precedurals around seeming mysteries. Like the other Rebus books I've read, the resolution to the main mysteries is a bit weak, especially when compared to the other events in the book.

So that alone puts the Rebus books a bit below the Morse or Dalgleish novels. However, John Rebus is almost as memorable as a plainclothesman as his English counterparts, rougher around the edges than either, hard to take but sympathetic. He makes the books move as he bounces around, as we see him through the eyes of his colleagues and his enemies. He's not an easy hero to like, but is an easy man to feel for. The rest of the cast, some totally heinous, others much more pure, set him to sharp relief. And the setting, while most likely not at all the true Edinburgh, helps a lot too.

Compared to American novles of this ilk, this series is a stunning gem. Mystery and police drama fans alike could do far worse.

Fine little book, this........2002-09-26

Ian Rankin, The Hanging Garden (St. Martin's Press, 1998)

In a couple of months of reading almost nothing save mysteries, The Hanging Garden stood out as the best of the lot. Rankin is capable of weaving clues into a narrative with the deftest hand in a British mystery author since Colin Wilson, and his characters are more than engaging enough; as with most series mysteries, reading them out of order is liable to drop the reader into the middle of a plotline, and so it is here. The soap opera quality is not, however, as intrusive as it is in, say, the Spenser novels of Robert Parker. Funny, unexpectedly sweet at times, and more contemplative than your usual mystery novel. Rankin is something of a change of pace for the mystery reader, and a refreshing one he is. *** ½

Hanging by every word in the page.......2002-03-10

This is my first Ian Rankin novel and it will definitely not be my last. John Rebus is a complex character who is battling his own personal demons. He is an Edinburgh Detective Inspector who is a recovering alcoholic and who is trying to reconnect with his daughter, Sammy, after many years of separation.

In this novel, Sammy is a victim of a hit-and-run and is currently unconscious in the hospital; a gang war is brewing and seems that the Yakuza might be involved; and an elderly man is being investigated as a Nazi war criminal. Rebus is trying to save Karina, a Bosnian refugee who is working as a prostitute in the streets of Edinburgh. Rankin does an excellent job with characterization giving depth to all the supporting players involved in the story. He focuses on their strengths as well as their weaknesses and does a great job in showing irony on several occasions.

The author knows how to structure the story. He makes use of flashbacks without warning the readers. It helps one to appreciate the then as well as the now. The story is not linear and it helps one to understand the motivation of most of the characters. I enjoyed my first John Rebus novel and I hope that all the others are as good as this one.

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